Creating your own AI with Custom GPTs

In this episode of Talking AI, Ray and Will Poynter—co-founders of ResearchWise AI—take a deep dive into the world of custom GPTs. They explore how these tailored AI assistants allow users to add unique instructions, integrate proprietary knowledge bases, and access specialized tools without requiring extensive coding skills. Ray and Will discuss how platforms like OpenAI’s Custom GPTs and Hugging Face Assistants let both novices and experts rapidly prototype AI-driven solutions for tasks ranging from HR and compliance to market research and client engagement.

A key focus in the conversation is how custom GPTs differ from conventional AI chatbots. Ray and Will emphasize the possibility of enhancing a standard AI model with company policies, proprietary datasets, and multi-agent frameworks for more powerful interactions. While custom GPTs provide a swift, no-code entry point, they also address practical concerns such as data privacy, usage caps, and the need for hosting accounts. Drawing on their own experience with projects like “Virtual Ray,” Ray and Will show how creating an AI prototype in minutes can accelerate the product development cycle—yet, over time, more robust, coded solutions may be necessary for advanced or highly specialized tasks.

For market researchers, the duo highlights exciting applications. From testing discussion guides with synthetic personas to creating interactive reporting tools, custom GPTs can make research findings more accessible and engaging. Ray and Will also touch on the broader AI ecosystem, mentioning how commercial software and big tech players are increasingly integrating custom GPT capabilities to attract users and streamline creative workflows.

Lastly, they note that while custom GPTs can quickly fill gaps in knowledge or workflow, they come with limitations. Building a fully bespoke system allows for deeper control, stronger security, and the ability to implement complex chain-of-thought or multi-agent reasoning. Yet for many businesses, starting with a low-code or no-code solution is a strategic first step to validate ideas and scale later.

Whether you’re a market researcher curious about speeding up insights generation, an HR professional looking to centralize internal knowledge, or an AI enthusiast seeking to prototype new apps, this conversation breaks down the value, practicality, and potential pitfalls of custom GPTs.

Tune in to hear Ray and Will share insider tips, real-world examples, and a vision for how custom GPTs can reshape the future of AI-driven decision-making—only on Talking AI.